From Blue Whale to TikTok, online threat looms large

Even as Blue Whale suicide cases went down, complaints against TikTok videos began to rise.

 The Madurai bench of Madras High Court in September 2017 took the case suo moto following reports of death of a college student after playing Blue Whale. 

Two years ago, Blue Whale challenge claimed the lives of youngsters driving the Madras high court and the police to ban the online game after marathon hearings and detailed advisories. This month, the court had to step in against the increasing use of Chinese TikTok app.  It voiced concern over “pornographic and inappropriate content” made available through such platforms.  

The Madurai bench of Madras high court in September 2017 took the case suo moto following reports of death of a college student after playing Blue Whale. During the hearing of the case, the CB-CID police said links to Blue Whale Challenge had been blocked and it could not be downloaded from play store. However, cops said social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter were used to obtain the links.  The bench directed the Central and state governments to explore possibilities of banning the game.   It also asked that IIT-Madras director be impleaded in the case to offer suggestions to ban such online games.   The police also issued an advisory to parents asking them to keep tabs on the children's online behavior.

Even as Blue Whale suicide cases went down, complaints against TikTok videos began to rise.  The petitioner, who sought a ban on TikTok, alleged that the online game encouraged paedophiles and the contents were very disturbing. The Madurai bench of Madras HC, hearing the plea, said people were making cruel humour against the innocent. It also raised concern over teenagers playing pranks and enjoying duet videos with strangers. It also objected to TV channels telecasting TikTok videos.

The court, as an interim measure, directed the authorities to prohibit the downloading of the app.  It also asked if the government can enact a statute, like Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, in the US, to prevent the children becoming cyber/online victims.

Interestingly, when TikTok was banned, there was a demand to ban online game PUBG in some parts of the country.

However, the bench, hearing a plea by Chinese company ByteDance which owns TikTok, on Wednesday, lifted its ban on the condition that the platform should not be used to host obscene videos.

The  company stressed on protecting the rights of legitimate users while pleading to lift the ban. But 'legitimate users' can be a misnomer when the app can be downloaded and used by all.   Online games and task-giving challenges are not only addictive, but also become a threat to one's life.  

People with low self esteem and those who feel insecure seek the attention of others by playing such life-threatening games. Some are also driven by peer pressure. Doctors and experts say discussions on such games and challenges and their promotion on social media platforms must be discouraged.  Also parents must keep an eye on attention-seeking behavioural pattern of youngsters which can make them more vulnerable to such online games and apps.  Keeping a check on their online behavior,  limiting their screen exposure and restricting their gadget use at nights  will help parents to ensure the psychological health of their children.

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Tags: blue whale challenge, tiktok

Location: India, Tamil Nadu, Chennai (Madras)

IIT Roorkee Student Kills Self, Police Suspect Role Of Blue Whale Challenge

IIT Roorkee Student Kills Self, Police Suspect Role Of Blue Whale Challenge

Abhijeet Singh Vansia's death has led to the speculation that he may have committed suicide as part of the banned online game Blue Whale Challenge

• Rakesh Jha
• Mar 17, 2018

A 21-year-old student of IIT Roorkee was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hostel room on March 15. Abhijeet Singh Vansia’s death has led to the speculation that he may have committed suicide as part of the banned online game Blue Whale Challenge.

After questioning other students, police said that they have come to know that many students in the college are addicted to these deadly online games and that may have prompted Abhijit to take the extreme step.

According to Times of India, police did not find any suicide note and were scrambling for clues as Abhijit was described as a good student by his teachers and did not appear to be under stress. Abhijit did not have any financial or family issues either, the police added.

Inspector Sadhna Tyagi, who’s investigating the case said:

“One of the students has told us that many in the hostel were addicted to playing suicide games online. He also mentioned a game called ’30 ways of suicide.”

The Blue Whale game caught attention after a teenage boy from Mumbai, suspected to be one of the gamer, jumped off the building.

In the game, the participants are given a series of task to complete daily for a period of 50 days, which ends with their death.

According to Indian Express, The notorious online game has allegedly pushed three teenagers into committing suicide in India while two were rescued before they could take the extreme step.

The number of suicides across Russia and the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan where the game is in rage is reported to be over 130

Madras HC seeks IIT director's help in banning Blue Whale game - Indian Express

Madras HC seeks IIT director's help in banning Blue Whale game

By PTI  |   Published: 04th September 2017 02:35 PM  |  

MADURAI: Taking a serious view of the Blue Whale Challenge game, the Madras High Court today directed the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to explore possibilities of banning it.

Initiating suo motu proceedings in the matter, Justices K K Sasidharan and G R Swaminathan of Madurai bench issued notice to the Union Information and Broadcasting Secretary and state Home Secretary and IT department and made several suggestions.

The bench asked them to find out the possibility of banning the game and directed that IIT-Madras Director be impleaded in the case to offer suggestions to ban such online games.

During the hearing of the matter, the state government informed the court that the student who ended his life here had shared the game with 75 others. However, all of them had been prevented from playing it, the government counsel added.

The judges suggested to the state DGP and Home Secretary that severe warning be issued to those who shared the 'dangerous' online game with others.

On September 1, the court had said it would take up the case suo motu when Krishnamurthy, an advocate, made an appeal for a direction to the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry to ban such games.

The advocate made the plea after 19-year old Vignesh, a private college student, allegedly committed suicide on August 30 here after playing the game.

Vignesh had reportedly told his friends that he was "crazy" about the game and also told his parents that he was getting isolated due to his addiction for it.

Later in a suicide note, he had said "The game was a devastating one... once you enter it, you would not be able to come out."

The bench also said monitoring should be intensified to prevent further spread of the game through sharing.

The court stressed on the need for creating awareness among students against playing such "dangerous" online games in educational institutions.

To this, CB-CID police officials present at the court said they were keeping a close watch and taking steps to freeze the game.

Warning had been issued against those sharing and downloading the "deadly" online game, they added.

The state government also informed the court that Vignesh had shared the game through Facebook and "Share it" App with 75 others. All had been prevented from playing the game, it said.

The IT department should also give suggestions to prevent the sharing of such "dangerous" online games, the bench said and posted the matter for further hearing to September 7.

The Blue Whale Challenge is reportedly a suicide game in which the player is given certain tasks to complete over a period of 50 days and the final task leads him or her to commit suicide.

The player is also asked to share photos after finishing each challenge.

The game has claimed several lives worldwide.

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